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Enchanter · 01-07-07, 08:09 AM

Personal Diary of Gerhard Linden 19 February ’40 – 28 February ‘40

Unbelievable!
Ordered to patrol deep water west of Spain, we transited the Straits of Dover again, and had not a single encounter! Regular excursions to periscope depth, full stops and baffle clearings had no effect, we couldn’t locate a single target in the entire patrol.
The crew are badly demoralized having returned home with a full load of fish, but the commanding officer of the base awarded me my Knights Cross for exceptional performance throughout the course of the war. Somehow, it feels like I should have earned this burning 20 ships to the waterline. But sadly, not so much as a fishing vessel crossed our bows this time. I hope this is a sign that the British navy and merchant marine are beginning to take the threat from the Kriegsmarine seriously!

Suzanne and I spent some more time together, but I admit, I was distracted by the recent events on patrol. This lead to a minor argument, culminating in her telling me that I can’t burn every ship in the enemy’s navy down. My hot headed response was that I would damn well like to.
After we calmed down again, we apologized to each other, and while she does understand my consternation, she just wanted to be more important to me. I understand that, and I am yet to figure out the precise words to tell her how she has become my very reason for returning to port. And smiling. And breathing. Somehow, I can’t get the words out when we are together. But every chance I get to spend with her I grab. She’s often busy at the hospital, and I at the docks, but we steal any moment available. The day of her birthday, 16 March, I wandered into a small store selling odds and ends, like old books and a few records for what little coin is still available, and food tickets. I spotted a record of popular Viennese waltzes, and I immediately bought it. Wrapping it in a simple brown paper, I handed it to her when next I saw her. She loved it, being a huge fan of the modern waltzes. She dragged me into her small little apartment near the hospital and proudly showed off her whole collection of records and her very modern gramophone. I knew she was an avid fan of music, but I never realized how much so! She played the record over and over again all night, and insisted that we dance to it every time! As the night got darker, we stopped moving to the music and merely stood in her living room holding onto each other swaying gently. I don’t think I’ll ever forget that night.

Subsequently I’ve ordered Fritz to locate waltzes for the boats gramophone. Before the end of this war, I’ll have the fiercest most refined warriors in the Reich!

Gerhard Linden
U-49 Kapt.

01-07-07, 08:09 AM	#4
Enchanter Bosun Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: South Africa Posts: 66 Downloads: 21 Uploads: 0	Personal Diary of Gerhard Linden 19 February ’40 – 28 February ‘40 Unbelievable! Ordered to patrol deep water west of Spain, we transited the Straits of Dover again, and had not a single encounter! Regular excursions to periscope depth, full stops and baffle clearings had no effect, we couldn’t locate a single target in the entire patrol. The crew are badly demoralized having returned home with a full load of fish, but the commanding officer of the base awarded me my Knights Cross for exceptional performance throughout the course of the war. Somehow, it feels like I should have earned this burning 20 ships to the waterline. But sadly, not so much as a fishing vessel crossed our bows this time. I hope this is a sign that the British navy and merchant marine are beginning to take the threat from the Kriegsmarine seriously! Suzanne and I spent some more time together, but I admit, I was distracted by the recent events on patrol. This lead to a minor argument, culminating in her telling me that I can’t burn every ship in the enemy’s navy down. My hot headed response was that I would damn well like to. After we calmed down again, we apologized to each other, and while she does understand my consternation, she just wanted to be more important to me. I understand that, and I am yet to figure out the precise words to tell her how she has become my very reason for returning to port. And smiling. And breathing. Somehow, I can’t get the words out when we are together. But every chance I get to spend with her I grab. She’s often busy at the hospital, and I at the docks, but we steal any moment available. The day of her birthday, 16 March, I wandered into a small store selling odds and ends, like old books and a few records for what little coin is still available, and food tickets. I spotted a record of popular Viennese waltzes, and I immediately bought it. Wrapping it in a simple brown paper, I handed it to her when next I saw her. She loved it, being a huge fan of the modern waltzes. She dragged me into her small little apartment near the hospital and proudly showed off her whole collection of records and her very modern gramophone. I knew she was an avid fan of music, but I never realized how much so! She played the record over and over again all night, and insisted that we dance to it every time! As the night got darker, we stopped moving to the music and merely stood in her living room holding onto each other swaying gently. I don’t think I’ll ever forget that night. Subsequently I’ve ordered Fritz to locate waltzes for the boats gramophone. Before the end of this war, I’ll have the fiercest most refined warriors in the Reich! Gerhard Linden U-49 Kapt. __________________ Hasta la wookie...baby.